"Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them (the Jewish authorities), 'He (Jesus Christ) is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone, '"
Acts 4: 8-12
Peter, a common fisherman, challenges us to be courageous. He and John were arrested because they healed a crippled man in the name of Jesus. Peter boldly proclaims to powerful leaders, “all of you…should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead…(that) this man stands before you healed. William Bennett’s Book of Virtues includes in “Courage” the stories of David and Goliath, Susan B. Anthony, and Rosa Parks. Many of us would include "courageous" people such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa, and Ukrainian President Zelensky.
And we probably would include our parents. Parental courage begins at conception and can reach a crescendo when children become teenagers. Parents can’t shield them from the many forces in society. Sustaining life requires courage, always trying to do the right thing even when we’re not sure it’s the right thing. Commitment to another, in good times and bad, requires courage. People grow and age, and eventually, we must let go. It takes courage to trust that God is always at our side.
Do I strive to stay true to the "inner voice" of conscience, always seeking what is right and true and good?
God, help me to become ever more courageous, a person who endeavors to stand up and serve others for your glory.
Today’s Reflection is by:
Fr. Kevin Mackin OFM
Did you know...
Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, of St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, has served in parish ministry and chaplaincy, and as a college president and professor. His articles and books include Enjoying God's Gifts; Get Thee Behind Me, Satan: Rejecting Evil; and Christian Unity: The Next Step 'That They May All Be One.' His website is www.FatherKevin.com.
